Minister Reynolds was sworn in as the Minister for Defence on 29 May 2019. Minister Reynolds served for 29 years in the Australian Army as a Reserve Officer in a wide range of part and full time appointments. She was the first woman in the Australian Army Reserves to be promoted to the rank of Brigadier and was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross. Minister Reynolds was elected to the Australian Senate in 2014 and again in 2019.
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
Minister for Defence Personnel
Minister Chester was sworn in for a second term as Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel on 29 May 2019, with the portfolio being elevated to Cabinet on 6 February 2020. In his previous term, Minister Chester also served as the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of Anzac. In February 2016, Minister Chester was appointed to Cabinet as the Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. He served for three months on the backbench from December 2017 to February 2018. Minister Chester is the member for Gippsland, Victoria, and was first elected to Federal Parliament on June 26, 2008.
Assistant Defence Minister,
Minister for International Development and the Pacific
Minister Hawke was sworn in as the Assistant Defence Minister on 29 May 2019. He was elected at the 2007 election as the Federal Member for Mitchell, an electorate centred on the Hills Shire in Northwest Sydney. In September 2015, Minister Hawke was appointed as the Assistant Minister to the Treasurer. Following the 2016 Federal Election Minister Hawke was appointed the Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. Due to the establishment of the Home Affairs Portfolio in late 2017, Minister Hawke was appointed the Assistant Minister for Home Affairs. On 27 August 2018, he was officially sworn in as the Special Minister of State. Minister Hawke served as an Army Reserve Officer in the Royal Australian Armoured Corps from 1995 to 2000.
Minister Price was sworn in as the Minister for Defence Industry on 29 May 2019. First elected to the Australian Parliament in 2013 as the Member for Durack – the largest electorate in Australia. Minister Price has previously served in the Environment portfolio and has held a number of Parliamentary Committee roles including the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade. A lawyer by profession, Minister Price brings over 20 years of experience in the private sector from a variety of commercial and legal roles. She has also supported the community through working with the not-for-profit sector.
4 December 2020
Joint media release
1 December 2020
KIERAN GILBERT: Defence minister, Linda Reynolds, thanks very much for your time.
